Damned Lies & Statistics

Mark Twain said “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Recent Spark prospects report some information that ought to be filed in the “damned lies” folder.

Apparently, if one were to base their knowledge of Spark products on information provided by other companies specializing in DAV sales, they might believe that Spark bodies are built from plastic, manufactured in China, and Imported through the Middle East. Wow. We had no idea. They have no clue.

Plastic isn’t a bad idea. Saturn automobiles have all-plastic body panels, and Corvettes have been made of fiberglass for fifty years, but that’s not how we make our bodies. While other companies’ products tend to use a steel frame covered with a sheet metal or sheet aluminum skin, Spark bodies use structural aluminum hybrid unibody construction. There is no need for a skin whatsoever. Expo models don’t even have visible rivets, which adds to the OEM look of the body.

Spark products are designed at Spark facilities in Alabama and Georgia. The idea of manufacturing bodies in China and importing them through the Middle East into America could be an interesting logistics exercise, but it doesn’t sound like a very good business model. Spark bodies are manufactured at several different facilities—all entirely on American soil. The certificate of origin that accompanies a Spark body states, “country of manufacture: USA”.

Whether you choose an MUV or DAV solution, from Spark or another company, it will be a substantial investment. Spark sales representatives will do their best to give you as much information as you need to make an informed decision. And that’s no lie.